I've been wondering if it was truly JS that caught his eye and he wanted to start a relationship, or if Maddie caught his eye, and then he wanted to start a relationship with Maddie's mom. I keep thinking it was Maddie first, and didn't matter who the mom was, as long as she appeared to be the type of woman you might be able to easily snow. And from what I've seen of her, she appears that way to me. All MOO
The thing that gives me pause over the whole 8am statement is that LE know that its out there, they must know the flack JS is getting, especially on unregulated social media.
If it wasn't true, and if she wasn't still being investigated as a suspect or POI, surely they would come right out and say so? If she is 100% a victim who is being persecuted and they know this, why haven't they put out a statement to say so?.
This situation is so messed up. I am going to play devils advocate and say I can imagine a scenario where maybe the mom was just in raw shock, like even from the beginning. Maybe she was suspicious from the beginning, but Madeline could have been literally everything to her so she just didn't want to and could not believe what was actually transpiring.
She may have recognized from the get go that morning things were odd, where's Maddie? And he lies. She may have been concerned but brushed it off because she knows questioning him further will result in more gaslighting and lies.
Or... she may know his temper and didn't want to push his buttons and have him explode on her like he did that that one guy in reddit. See below for the link to that post. He loses it in the last paragraph and goes ballistic.
The thing that gives me pause over the whole 8am statement is that LE know that its out there, they must know the flack JS is getting, especially on unregulated social media.
If it wasn't true, and if she wasn't still being investigated as a suspect or POI, surely they would come right out and say so? If she is 100% a victim who is being persecuted and they know this, why haven't they put out a statement to say so?.
I totally agree ,LE would want to protect JS if they thought she was a victim and thought her inconsistencies were due to understandable reasons which had reasonable explanations.
I can also see due to the photo release that LE are going to be extremely careful about what is released to the public.
And again due to the backlash of the photo release LE would be quick to stop any unwarranted speculations about JS ,which they have not done.
I totally agree ,LE would want to protect JS if they thought she was a victim and thought her inconsistencies were due to understandable reasons which had reasonable explanations.
I can also see due to the photo release that LE are going to be extremely careful about what is released to the public.
And again due to the backlash of the photo release LE would be quick to stop any unwarranted speculations about JS ,which they have not done.
I totally agree ,LE would want to protect JS if they thought she was a victim and thought her inconsistencies were due to understandable reasons which had reasonable explanations.
I can also see due to the photo release that LE are going to be extremely careful about what is released to the public.
And again due to the backlash of the photo release LE would be quick to stop any unwarranted speculations about JS ,which they have not done.
I've had terrible suspicions of my own towards the mother from the beginning, and I want to continue to reserve them in my best hopes for MS, she deserved the best, at least some dignity after what we know and I fear what else we will learn. No matter, I'm sure it will be awful. I can hope she had a mother who was doing the best for her and had no idea what was going on, but that's all it really is, hope.
On February 26, 2023, at approximately 1948 hours, I, Deputy Joseph (10644), responded to [redacted] Village Park Drive, Orlando, Orange County, Florida, regarding a Missing Juvenile. While on the scene, the step-parent stated he dropped his daughter off at school, and when the mother went to the school, the daughter was not there. The parents searched within the neighborhood and places where the daughter may have gone. The parents could provide a location where the daughter may have been but yielded negative results when deputies checked the area. The juvenile was entered into FCIC/NCIC and EMEResouce as missing disabled.
My investigation revealed the following:
When I arrived on the scene, I spoke with the mother, Jennifer Lissette Soto, who gave me verbal and sworn written testimony. On February 26, 2023, at approximately 0800 hours Jennifer observed (missing) Madeline Soto getting dressed for school, (step-father) Stephan Sterns took Madeline to school dropping her off near the intersection of Town Loop Bivd and Hunter's Park lane at approximately 0830 hours. Jennifer went to Hunter's Creek Middle School in an attempt to pick up Madeline at approximately 1600 hours when she discovered Madeline did not make it to school. In an effort to find Madeline, Jennifer looked through the neighborhoods near Madeline's school and went to her mother's business office located at [redacted] Village Park Drive.
I later spoke with Stephan Stern who stated in a verbal and sworn written statement the following:
At approximately 0825 - 0840 hours Stephan dropped Madeline off approximately one block away from her school. Stephan watched Madeline leave his vehicle and walk toward the direction of her school. As Stephan was driving away he could see what appeared to be Madeline searching through her book bag he did not think anything of it due to Madeline usually looked through her bag to find headphones so she could put them in before going to school. Stephan began heading home when he attempted to stop for a vape juice at a nearby vape shop but determined it was closed, so Stephan went home to Kissimmee. Once Stephan was home for about an hour he went back out to retrieve a vape juice and then run errands. Stephan stated he returned home and stayed home at approximately 1430 hours.
While on the scene, I had Deputy Diaz go to [redacted] Los Palmas Vista Drive (grandmother's home) due to the close proximity to both the school and the grandmother's business that Madeline would frequently visit. Deputy Moony was able to establish an attempt to contact [redacted] Santa Maria Drive to see if Madeline made her way back to her mother's home. Both addresses yielded negative results.
[obscured] provide me with the phone number of Madeline's best friend
I think we'd all be interested in seeing the actual sworn statements (is there difference between a sworn testimony and a sworn statement?), but this means that LE knows precisely what JS's original story was for them to compare against. Some of WFTV's earlier reporting had me thinking that they were primarily going off the description "Jennifer observed," which IMO isn't very reliable phrasing.
Just to nitpick though--LE says this is from JS's sworn statement, and then identifies SS as MS's step-father, which we don't believe to be factually true. I have no conclusions to draw from this, just thinking there is no reason for anyone to lie about it, and yet it isn't true.
I see where they say they obtained reports but they're not provided? I choose to reserve my judgement for what the police say directly not what unnamed sources or unlinked reports say. Just me.
Also, I'm not convinced that she didn't make inconsistent statements, I would just like to see the official reports or hear official statements from the investigators. After all, she hasn't been charged with making these alleged inconsistent statements... Yet. Not to say she will or she won't. Omo.
See above for the actual report. What LE says that JS says is inconsistent with when LE says they believe Maddie to have already been dead. It’s a little indirect for my tastes though, so I’m also reserving judgment.
Background report showed his current address as a parent’s house in North Port. Self reporting in case not allowed - if it’s allowed, I can post a screenshot. If not allowed, please delete.
ETA screenshots - redacted address and associated phone number since it’s his parents’
Be cautious about these online background reports, or really any others. They’re useful for collecting info but I don’t think this means that SS actually resided at his parent’s house. They have outdated info all the time, or maybe he used their address for mail.
I am an AAA member with my own address, but they send mail to my mom’s house asking if I want life insurance all the time. Maintaining accurate info is difficult for these databases.
Gratuitously quoting myself here with the incident report:
The one thing better than the incident report would be JS’s actual sworn statement. What we have now is still a secondhand description, technically.
See above for the actual report. What LE says that JS says is inconsistent with when LE says they believe Maddie to have already been dead. It’s a little indirect for my tastes though, so I’m also reserving judgment.
LE says they have SS on camera back at the apartment around 8:19 am and at this time they also see MS in the car he was driving and they believe she was deceased.
Both JS. and SS were mostly "home" at the Soto apartment all day, except for the vape shop errand etc UNTIL SS is later seen around 2:30 that afternoon with the flat tire, etc in the same area where MS body was later found.
WHERE THE HELL WAS MS BODY between 8:19 and 2:30-ish pm?????
I keep thinking she was in the car until it was time to run his "errands", which was actually to dispose of her body. I brought it up upthread why I thought LE was confident she was deceased when he arrived back home at 8:19am, and that was a guess that they saw him cover her with a blanket in the car to hide a dead body from prying eyes... and she didn't remove the blanket. I could be wrong, but it fits with what I know. As more facts come out I could likely change my view. It wouldn't be the first time!
Sterns said he went home for about an hour after going to a vape store and then ran errands and was home until 2:30 that day, the report said.
Channel 9 learned Tuesday that the story Jennifer Soto -- the mother of 13-year-old Madeline Soto -- gave to law enforcement does not line up with what investigators know.
www.wftv.com
What I'm not sure of is whether MSM got that right that he was home UNTIL 2:30. Perhaps it should read that he was home AROUND 2:30 which makes more sense to me.
Ok. In the "Gray Hughes discussion video" I linked to a few posts above, Gray Hughes is reading the docs and he confirms SS had a room in the apartment. He explains when the LE saw the images of the abuse on SS phone, there was sheets, clothing etc visible and at that same time, other members of LE were back at the Soto apartment and those LE were able to locate and confirm the same items in both SS room AND in MS room.
Edited to add this is around 45 minutes into the video. So we have proof from the docs and LE that SS had his own room and that he abused MS in his room and in hers, at minimum.
Edited to add a screenshot from the relevant portion courtesy of the docs @MassGuy shared upthread: View attachment 489483
Not sure if this is the conclusion you’re drawing, but to be clear I don’t think this is an indicator either way if he had his own room in the house, ie. separate from JS as one of the alleged friends (Frank? I haven’t watched those videos) has said.
The report doesn’t mention JS in this context, so IMO it’s possible that the room being referenced belonged to SS and JS, but JS wasn’t relevant to bring up because she wasn’t the one being arrested. It’s also possible that the room belongs to just SS.
If you just mean he had a room there which meant he lived there (which has also been a point of confusion), yea I agree he definitely lived with them despite any relationship status with JS.
Gratuitously quoting myself here with the incident report:
The one thing better than the incident report would be JS’s actual sworn statement. What we have now is still a secondhand description, technically.
See above for the actual report. What LE says that JS says is inconsistent with when LE says they believe Maddie to have already been dead. It’s a little indirect for my tastes though, so I’m also reserving judgment.
Be cautious about these online background reports, or really any others. They’re useful for collecting info but I don’t think this means that SS actually resided at his parent’s house. They have outdated info all the time, or maybe he used their address for mail.
I am an AAA member with my own address, but they send mail to my mom’s house asking if I want life insurance all the time. Maintaining accurate info is difficult for these databases.
I’m new and trying to form the habit of linking sources to everything I say that is not just my opinion, every time, otherwise I’ll totally lose track. I’ve got an awful memory and there’s so many little details, I don’t know how people keep things straight.
I keep thinking she was in the car until it was time to run his "errands", which was actually to dispose of her body. I brought it up upthread why I thought LE was confident she was deceased when he arrived back home at 8:19am, and that was a guess that they saw him cover her with a blanket in the car to hide a dead body from prying eyes... and she didn't remove the blanket. I could be wrong, but it fits with what I know. As more facts come out I could likely change my view. It wouldn't be the first time!
Sterns said he went home for about an hour after going to a vape store and then ran errands and was home until 2:30 that day, the report said.
Channel 9 learned Tuesday that the story Jennifer Soto -- the mother of 13-year-old Madeline Soto -- gave to law enforcement does not line up with what investigators know.
www.wftv.com
What I'm not sure of is whether MSM got that right that he was home UNTIL 2:30. Perhaps it should read that he was home AROUND 2:30 which makes more sense to me.
If we suddenly have new camera info from a mountain or something, maybe I will change my mind lol :-D
From the sworn statement SS gave initially (go back a page and also see what MackTheKNife transcribed) SS claimed he went to the vape shop, ran "errands" and was home UNTIL 2:30pm.
I agree with you it is more likely he returned to the apartment after changing the tire, etc. Way too many lies here to keep straight!
I’m new and trying to form the habit of linking sources to everything I say that is not just my opinion, every time, otherwise I’ll totally lose track. I’ve got an awful memory and there’s so many little details, I don’t know how people keep things straight.
If we suddenly have new camera info from a mountain or something, maybe I will change my mind lol :-D
From the sworn statement SS gave initially (go back a page and also see what MackTheKNife transcribed) SS claimed he went to the vape shop, ran "errands" and was home UNTIL 2:30pm.
I agree with you it is more likely he returned to the apartment after changing the tire, etc. Way too many lies here to keep straight!
Not sure if this is the conclusion you’re drawing, but to be clear I don’t think this is an indicator either way if he had his own room in the house, ie. separate from JS as one of the alleged friends (Frank? I haven’t watched those videos) has said.
The report doesn’t mention JS in this context, so IMO it’s possible that the room being referenced belonged to SS and JS, but JS wasn’t relevant to bring up because she wasn’t the one being arrested. It’s also possible that the room belongs to just SS.
If you just mean he had a room there which meant he lived there (which has also been a point of confusion), yea I agree he definitely lived with them despite any relationship status with JS.
I would personally find it very odd if the officer did not say the sheets etc were consistent with those found in the room of JS & SS or "her parent's room", but you have a point. I mean, they were a couple, presenting as "partners"? I do take this as some level of confirmation of Frank's (I think it was Frank, like you I find some of these details crazymaking) statement about the separate bedrooms since it was specifically referred to as Stephan's room.
On a sad note, we know SS abused MS in her bedroom as well. But given the grandmother's statements about MS not sleeping alone, I guess at least we do know the poor kid at least HAD her own room. In another Gray Hughes video which was shared last night, the "Part 2. Interview with Josh", the friend Josh tells about going to the condo and saying SS& JS had a shared room, and MS had her own room AND other family lived there. Josh said the rest of the condo--living room, etc was "off limits" and as a visitor he was only allowed in the bedrooms of SS/JS & MS.
All of this is just really weird to me, trying to get some context or plausible explanation for how JS could have been unaware of the SA, unaware of MS being deceased in the apartment in the early morning hours, etc. For me, it just does not add up. Too many red flags.
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www.wftv.com
